VANCOUVER — Today, Aug. 15, is the one-year anniversary of Rick Rypien's death. Two of his off-ice friends in Vancouver, Travis Britton and Karl Gregg, have organized a charity golf tournament in his memory.

The RaiseIt4Ryp tournament takes place Sept. 4 at Mayfair Lakes. Canucks alumni like Thomas Gradin, inaugural Canucks captain Orland Kurtenbach, Dave Babych, Darcy Rota and Jack McIlhargey have all signed up for the event along with current players Alex Burrows, Aaron Volpatti, Andrew Ebbett, Chris Higgins, newly signed defenceman Jason Garrison and Kevin Bieksa, who was Rypien’s closest friend on the team.

Proceeds from the tournament will go towards mental health initiatives through programs run in conjunction with mindcheck.ca, the Canucks Autism Network and Rypien's hockey school in Crowsnest Pass to assist kids from families who are struggling financially.

Former Vancouver Canuck Rick Rypien took his own life a year ago today, Aug. 15, 2011.

Photograph by: Jeff Vinnick, NHLI via Getty Images

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